Astilbe plant named ‘White Wings’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named ‘White Wings’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; durable dark green leaves; very freely and uniformly flowering; and attractive white-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Astilbeplant, botanically known as Astilbe hybrid, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘White Wings’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Noorden, The Netherlands. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new compact freely-flowering Astilbe cultivarswith attractive flower colors.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1991 ofthe Astilbe×Arendsii cultivar ‘Weisse Gloria’, not patented, as the maleor pollen parent, with the Astilbe simplicifolia cultivar ‘HennieGraafland’, not patented, as the female or seed parent.

The cultivar ‘White Wings’ was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Noorden, The Netherlands.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divisions harvested atNoorden, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this newAstilbe are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Whate Wings’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘White Wings’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘White Wings’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and compact habit.

2. Durable dark green leaves.

3. Very freely and uniformly flowering.

4. Attractive white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Astilbe differ from plants of the male parent, thecultivar ‘Weisse Gloria’, in flower shape, in addition, plants of thenew Astilbe are more compact, are more freely flowering, and have whiterflowers than plants of the cultivar ‘Weisse Gloria’.

Plants of the new Astilbe differ from plants of the female parent, thecultivar ‘Hennie Graafland’, in flower color, in addition, plants of thenew Astilbe are more freely flowering and have darker green and glossierleaves than plants of the cultivar ‘Hennie Graafland’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompany colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Astilbe.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of the new Astilbe.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof typical inflorescences of the new Astilbe.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of typical leaves (mature, left, petiole, center; young, right) ofthe new Astilbe.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were about one year-old and grown in 17-cm containers underoutdoor production conditions which closely approximate commercialproduction conditions during the spring and summer in Noorden, TheNetherland.

Botanical classification: Astilbe hybrid cultivar ‘White Wings’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Astilbe simplicifolia cultivar ‘Hennie Graafland’, notpatented.

Male parent.—Astilbe×Arendsii cultivar ‘Weisse Gloria’, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By root divisions.

Time to rooting.—About 3 months at temperatures about 18° C.

Root description.—Fine.

Plant description:

Crop time.—From divisions, about 40 weeks are required to producefully-grown flowering plants in 17-cm containers.

Form.—Upright, compact; inverted triangle.

Branching habit.—Flowering stems and leaves arise from the roots.

Plant height.—About 40 cm.

Area of spread.—About 30 cm.

Vigor.—Moderate.

Stems.—Length: About 40 cm. Internode length: About 5 cm. Texture: Verysparsely covered with very short (less than 0.5 mm) light brown hairs.Color: 59A to 137A to 139C.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Bi-ternately compound; alternate.Quantity of leaflets per leaf: Typically about 15 to 18. Leaf length,including petiole: About 22 cm. Leaf width: About 14 cm. Leaflet length:About 3.5 cm. Leaflet width: About 1.8 cm. Leaflet shape: Ovate toelliptic. Leaflet apex: Acuminate to acute. Leaflet base: Rounded.Leaflet margin: Doubly serrate, slightly crispate. Leaflet texture:Slightly lustrous; sparsely covered with very short (less than 0.5 mm)light brown hairs along the veins. Leaflet color: Young and maturefoliage, upper surface: 137A. Young and mature foliage, lower surface:137D to 138B. Venation, upper surface: 137A. Venation, lower surface:183D. Petiole: Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture:Covered with dark gary-purple chairs, close to 187A, about 1 mm inlength. Color: 143A to 187A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Numerous small simgle flowers arranged inbranched panicles. Very freely flowering with about 1,300 flowers andflower buds per plant. Flowers sessile.

Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering typically during theearly summer.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last a few weeks on the plant and more thanone week as a cut flower. Flowers persistent.

Fragrance.—Faint, not unpleasant.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Shape: Ovateto orbicular. Rate of opening: About two to three weeks from visible tofully opened flower. Color: 142D.

Flower size.—Length (height): About 3.5 mm. Diameteer: About 2.5 mm.

Petals.—Arrangement: Five. Shape: Linear. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 0.8 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Whenopening, upper and lower surfaces: 142D. Fully opened flower, upper andlower surfaces: 155D.

Calyx.—Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Number of sepals: Aboutfive. Sepal shape: Ovate. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire.Sepal color (Both surfaces): Close to 142D.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: About ten. Antherattachment: Basifixed. Anther length: Less than 0.5 mm. Anther color:Pale creamy white. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Pale creamywhite. Pistils: Pistil number: Two. Pistil length: About 1.5 mm. Stigmashape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Creamy white. Style length: About 1.2mm. Style color: Cream to greenish white. Ovary color: 142C to 142D.

Seed.—Length: Less than 0.5 mm. Diameter: Less than 0.5 mm. Color: Lightbrown.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, plants of the newAstilbe are slightly susceptible to diseases common to Astilbe.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named‘White Wings’, as illustrated and described.